Folding chair



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

H. OWENS. FOLDING CHAIR- No. 568,625. Patented Sept. '29, 1896.

ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES:

2 Sheath-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

H OWENS FOLDING GHAIR. No. 568,625.

Patented Sept. 29, 1896.

INVE/VTU/v ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES:

- with the seat down.

MTED STATES PATENT rr rc13.

Y HARRISON OWENS, OFlVIONTESANO, \VASIIINGTON.

FOLDING CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,625, dated September 29, 1896. Y Application filed January 10,1896. Serial No. 575,011. (No model.) v

T albwhoml it may concern:

Beit known that I, HARRISON OWENs, of Montesano,in the county of Ohehalis and State of I/Vashington, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Folding Chairs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Myinvention relates particularly to folding chairs adapted for use in theaters and like places of amusement; and the object ofthe invention is to provide a chair which when folded up may be revolved freely upon its support, so as to facilitate the convenient exit of people from said places of amusement.

Another object of the invention is to construct the chair in such manner that when the seat is dropped to a horizontal position the frame of the chair will be automatically and instantly looked upon its support, it ,being possible to lock the chair in any desired position.

A further object of the invention is to construct the chair in very few parts and to provide for the various parts used being not only light, but strong and economic.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the chair folding up to occupy a minimum of space, and likewise to provide for the ready and convenient removal of the chair from its support, as, for example, in the event of fire or when the hall in which the chairs are located is to be thoroughly cleaned. The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,

in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a rear'elevation of the improved chair. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the chair Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a front elevation of the chair with the seat folded up. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the chair in its folded position, and Fig. 6 isavertical section taken substantially on the line 6 6 of Fig. t.

In carrying out the invention any suitable form of base A may be employed, the base being adapted to be secured to the floor, and

a standard or post 10 is secured in the base, while around the lower portion of the standard or post a collar 11 is constructed, the said collar being provided with any desired number of slots 12. The supporting or main frame B of the chair is practically U-shaped, and its sides 13 at its upper end are substantially straight, as is likewise the bottom, and in the central portion of the bottom of the frame a sleeve 14: is formed, or an aperture is made at that point to receive the post 10. Upon the lower face of the bottom portion of the said frame B preferablytwo lugs 15 are produced, adapt-ed when the chair is in position to be occupied to enter alining slots 12. In the drawings but two slots are illustrated, and they are at the sides of the base, so that when the frame of the chair is in locking connection with the base the front of the chair will face in a desired direction. I

The back 0 of the chair is provided with lugs 16 at a point preferably between its center and lower end, but nearest the center, and a vided in the outerside face with a vertical groove 19, as best shown in Fig. 5.

The seat D may be of any desired shape, and it is pivoted upon a rod 20, which extends from one side of the frame to the other 4 a predetermined distance below the lower edge of the back of. the chair, and at each side of the seat an upwardly and rearwardly extending crank-arm 21 is formed, and each crank-arm is provided with a pin 22, which enters the slots in the bottom extensions of the back, as is also shown in Fig. 5.

A cam-lug 23 is firmly secured to the under face of the seat at the central portion of its rear edge, and the said lug is apertured to loosely receive the supporting-rod of the seat, and the lug is provided upon'its lower face at or near its rear end with a cam-surface 24. A sleeve is employed in connection with the seatsection of the chair, the said sleeve being provided with cars 25, loosely mounted upon the supporting-rod 20 of the seat, and, as shown in Figs. 1 and at, an ear of the sleeve is located at each side of the cam-surface of the aforesaid cam lug 23.

The sleeve 25 is adapted to receive the upper end of the standard or post 10 of the base, and the camsurface 24 of the cam-lug 23 is adapted for engagement with the upper end of the aforesaid post at the time that the seat is carried to an upper position,and this contact serves to raise the frame B of the chair a suf ficient distance to clear the lugs 15 of the frame from the slots in the base, permitting the chair, when folded, to be freely revolved upon its supporting standard or post.

Any desired form of a hat-support 26 may be and preferably is located upon the under surface of the seat, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and it. The arms 27 of the chair are preferably made each from a single piece of suitable material, and the said arms are segmental, each being provided with a longitudinal slot 28. The upper end of each arm is pivotally supported at one end of the upper or supporting rod 17 of the back, while a pin 29 is located upon each side of the seat, and the said pins are adapted to travel in the slots 28 of the arms, said arms affording a substantial support orbrace for the seat when the same is occupied.

In the operation of the chair when the seat is carried to an upper or folded position the arms move downward,foldin g close to the sides of the supportingframe l3, and the crankarms 21 of the seat tendto carry the lower end of the back outward, thereby bringing the u pper portion of the said back forward to practically meet the seat, thereby enabling the chair, when folded, to occupy but a minimum of space.

It will be observed that there is but a single support for the chair, namely, the support or standard 10, and consequently there is but little surface 011 which dust can accumulate, or to interfere with the proper cleanin g of the surface beneath the chair.

\Vhen necessary, the chairs may be expeditiously and conveniently lifted from their supports.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, with a base, of a folding chair having pivotal support on the said base, lugs attached to the chair, being adapted to enter openings in the base, and a cam connected with the seat of the chair, operating on the base to raise the chair when the seat is carried to the upper position, and permitting the chair to drop when the said seat is lowered, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a folding chair, a substantially U- shaped frame, a back pivotally connected with the said frame, a seat likewise pivotally connected to the frame, arms carried by the frame and having sliding connection with the seat, and a crank connection between the rear of the seat and the lower portion of the back of the chair, as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a chair, the combination of a frame, a base on which the frame is vertically movable, the frame having a lug capable of dropping into a recess 011 the base, a seat pivotall y mounted on the frame, and a cam carried by the seat, the cam engaging the base, substantially as described.

4. In a chair, the combination of a base, a frame movable on the base and capable of being locked with the same, a seat connected with the frame, and a cam mounted upon and actuated by the seat and capable of engaging the base to move the frame on the base, substantially as described.

5. In a chair, the combination of a base having a standard arising therefrom, the base having a recess, a frame vertically movable on the standard and having a lug capable of fitting into the recess, a rod carried by the frame, a seat pivotally mounted on the rod, a sleeve pivot-ally attached to the rod and receiviu g the upper end of the standard, and a cam fixed to the seat and engaging the upper end of the standard, substantially as de scribed.

6. In a chair, the combination of abase having a vertical standard, a frame vertically movable on the standard and capable of looking with the base, a back pivotally mounted on the frame and having a projection formed with a groove, a seat also pivotally mounted on the frame, a crank-arm carried by the seat and having a part moving in the groove of the projection, and a cam fixed to the seat and engaging the standard, substantially as described.

7. In a chair, the combination of a base, a frame vertically movable 011 the base, a seat having movement on the frame, and means actuated by the movement of the seat by which means the frame may be moved on the base, substantially as described.

HARRISON OlVENS.

\Vitnesses:

AUSTIN E. Gnnrmrns, O. O. OWENS. 

